Clover Studio

Clover Studio Co., Ltd
クローバースタジオ株式会社
Subsidiary
Industry Video game industry
Founded July 1, 2004 (as Studio 9)
Defunct March 2007 (dissolved into Capcom)
Headquarters Japan
Key people
 Atsushi Inaba (CEO)
Kenzo Tsujimoto (vice-president)
Yoshifumi Yamashita (director)
Haruhiro Tsujimoto (senior manager)
Tamio Oda (managing director)
Shinji Utsunomiya (design lead)
Dragan Tosic (lead composer)
Ryuta Takahashi (software engineer)
Products Viewtiful Joe
Ōkami
God Hand
Parent Capcom
Website www.cloverstudio.co.jp

Clover Studio (Japanese: クローバースタジオ株式会社 Hepburn: Kurōbāsutajio Kabushikigaisha) was an independent Japanese video game development studio funded by Capcom. The studio developed the PlayStation 2 port of Viewtiful Joe, both versions of Viewtiful Joe 2 for the Nintendo GameCube and PlayStation 2, and the PS2 titles Ōkami and God Hand. The name "clover" is an abbreviation of "creativity lover"[1] as well as the Japanese syllables mi ("three") and ba ("leaf") coming from the names of Shinji Mikami and Clover's Atsushi Inaba.[2]

The studio consisted largely of existing Capcom R&D talent, who had formed the company (then called Studio 9) to give themselves greater executive control (and thus creative freedom), like Sega's semi-autonomous studios in the early 2000s. The studio focused largely on creating new intellectual property rather than sequels. When these failed to perform on par with Capcom's more popular series, Capcom attempted to merge the studio back into their internal R&D. Those at the studio chose instead to leave the company, and Clover was dissolved.

Some of the key members of Clover founded Seeds Inc., a new development group[3] that merged with ODD Incorporated in October 2007 to form PlatinumGames,[4] which has since built up a staff composed of former Clover staff. Other members (including the art director of Ōkami) went to join Ignition Entertainment at their Tokyo development studio, which developed the game El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. On October 28, 2010, one of the most prominent members of Clover Studio and then Platinum Games, Shinji Mikami, joined ZeniMax Media in a deal where ZeniMax acquired his new development studio Tango Gameworks.[5]

History

To facilitate Viewtiful Joe 2's development, Capcom turned "Team Viewtiful" into Clover Studio, a semi-autonomous production company with a focus on developing new intellectual properties (IPs).[6] The separation was also in part due to Resident Evil 4's PlayStation 2 release, which caused significant tensions between Capcom and Mikami, who had touted the game's console exclusivity.[7][8] Clover Studio was able to produce two more games in the Viewtiful Joe series, which serve as side-stories, and commissioned an anime adaptation which was handled by Group TAC. Clover's next big project was Ōkami, a "brand-focused project" fitting with Capcom's goal for Clover to develop new IPs.[9] Although it was a critical success, it failed to live up to Capcom's sales expectations; Clover's next project God Hand did even worse.[10] Compounding this problem, Clover's developers still felt stifled under the weight of Capcom's corporate management, who were reluctant or actively opposed to risky new ideas.[6][11]

Capcom shut down Clover Studio in late 2006, after Atsushi Inaba, Hideki Kamiya and Shinji Mikami left the company.[12] They would go on to found PlatinumGames with members of their old studio.[11] In 2008, they announced the "Platinum Three", referring to MadWorld, Infinite Space, and Bayonetta, which would attempt to carry on the Capcom Five's ambitious and creative original spirit.[13] These resignations were part of a series of high-profile departures from Capcom, including Yoshiki Okamoto in 2003 and Keiji Inafune in 2010.[14] Inafune complained of similar problems as Inaba, Kamiya, and Mikami, namely that Capcom management had a rule dictating that at least 70-80 percent of all new projects must be sequels of existing properties, with the actual number very close to 100 percent at any time.[15]

Games developed

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Capcom Forms Clover Studio". Game Gossip. 2004-04-21. Archived from the original on September 2, 2004. Retrieved 2005-07-18.
  2. ↑ "Capcom & Clover, Over and Over: Former Clover Head Atsushi Inaba on a Post-Capcom World". Gamasutra. 2006-10-12. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  3. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (2007). "Clover Reborn". Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  4. ↑ プラチナゲームズ株式会社
  5. ↑ Gamespot Article
  6. 1 2 Sheffield, Brandon (2006-10-23). "Capcom & Clover, Over and Over: Former Clover Head Atsushi Inaba on a Post-Capcom World". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  7. ↑ Bailey, Kat (2010-03-31). "Shinji Mikami Launches Teaser Site with Harakiri Flash Game". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  8. ↑ Cullen, Johnny (2010-11-12). "Mikami originally displeased at becoming producer at Capcom". VG24/7. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  9. ↑ Sheffield, Brandon (2005-03-11). "Postcard from GDC 2005: Lessons from Viewtiful Joe: Making a Creatively and Financially Successful New Game". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  10. ↑ Drake, Shannon (2007-05-08). "Vision Doesn't Sell Copies". The Escapist. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  11. 1 2 Mielke, James (2008-01-30). "Clover Blossoms: Atsushi Inaba Interview". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  12. ↑ Edge staff (2006-10-12). "Clover Studios to Dissolve". Edge. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  13. ↑ Bergervoet, Erwin (2008-05-14). "Platinum Games onthult de nieuwe 'Capcom Five'". Gamer.nl. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  14. ↑ Kohler, Chris (2010-10-29). "Mega Man Creator's Departure Completes Capcom Talent Exodus". Wired.com. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  15. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (2011-05-09). "Inafune Shares Past Capcom Development Secrets". Andriasang. Archived from the original on 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
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